Author Archives: KDSMurray

The idea of Antarctica

By KDSMurray | Published: 20 November 2011

Edgar Allen Poe’s novel ‘The Narrative Of Gordon Pym’ (1838) evokes the belief, prior to the exploration of Antarctica, that a lost civilisation may be contained within its icy borders. Rather than the black-skinned inhabitants of deepest darkest Africa, this furthest reach of the world would reveal a race of Hyperboreans, with a culture that [...]

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What becomes of the Old South with the rise of the New North?

By KDSMurray | Published: 8 June 2011

Contrary to the usual talk about the rise of the Global South, The New North: The World in 2050 by Laurence Smith argues that climate change will favour the development of the Arctic region, where there is more land than the south. From his RSA talk In 2050, Northern countries – notably Canada, Russia and [...]

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Yantra from Ahmedabad

By KDSMurray | Published: 25 April 2011

Yantras are square charms whose power is based on words and diagrams. The above yantra was obtained from a market in Ahmedabad, India and contains the principles of India geomancy on which much architecture is based. Vastu Shastra gives particular meaning to the cardinal points. In the Vastu Purusha Mandala, the earth is represented by [...]

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From heresy to beauty products–the idea of South in France

By KDSMurray | Published: 2 November 2010

It is tempting to position the South as a victim of the North. Certainly, the conflict between the French North and South appears to be a story of ruthless oppressor that violently subjugates a peace-loving and tolerant victim. Is that necessarily so? Whichever way, French history straddles a cultural fault-line that continues to move in [...]

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And if I ever lose my north and south…

By KDSMurray | Published: 26 February 2010

Moonshadow is considered one of Cat Stevens greatest songs and his personal favourite of that period. It imagines the loss of body parts as a form of liberation. One curious verse talks about the loss of teeth: And if I ever lose my mouth All my teeth, north and south Yes, if I ever lose [...]

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